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DRBC-Hosted N.J. Watershed Ambassador Organizes Successful Rain Barrel Workshop

Earlier this month, the Americorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program partnered with Isles, Inc., Trenton Green Team, and N.J. Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) to hold a free rain barrel workshop. This effort was led by N.J. Watershed Ambassador Susan Lee, ambassador for Watershed Management Area 11 (WMA 11), which covers the central Delaware portion of New Jersey. DRBC is a proud supporter of this program and annually hosts the watershed ambassador for WMA 11.

Ten volunteers participated, including DRBC's Donna Woolf, making a total of 10 rain barrels. Rain barrels help homeowners reduce their outside water use, saving money and reducing pollution from storm water runoff. By building 10 rain barrels, the volunteers prevented 14,000 gallons of storm water from entering local waterbodies!

Special thanks go to Isles, Inc., who donated tools and supplies and hosted the workshop at their facility, and to NJDEP, who provided the rain barrels.

The Americorps New Jersey Watershed Ambassadors Program is an environmental community service program administered by NJDEP to raise public awareness about water and watershed issues and to promote watershed stewardship through direct community involvement. AmeriCorps members are assigned to different watersheds throughout the state to serve as "watershed ambassadors" to their watershed communities. Please visit the above link for more information.

The group of volunteers receives instructions on how to make the rain barrels. Photo courtesy of Susan Lee.The volunteers add a screen to the top of the rain barrel to keep out insects and debris. Photo courtesy of Susan Lee.The group is put to work making the rain barrels. Photo courtesy of Susan Lee.A volunteer preps a hole in a rain barrel for the spigot. Photo courtesy of Susan Lee.DRBC's Donna Woolf (left) and another volunteer are busy putting the finishing touches on a rain barrel. Photo courtesy of Susan Lee.The volunteers are all smiles with some of their finished products. Photo courtesy of Susan Lee.